Improvement in mail-bags



I. BOYLE.

MAILBAG. No.176,507, Patented April 25. 1876.

N-PETER8, PHOTO-LITKOGRAPHF-R. WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN BOYLE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN MAIL-BAGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 176,507, dated April 25, 1876; application filed January 15, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN BOYLE, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improged Mail-Bag, of which the following is a specification:

The accompanying drawing represents a side view of my improved mail-bag, with parts broken out to show the shape of the same.

The objectof my invention is to construct the mail-bags that are taken up by the catchers of mail-cars in such a manner that they may be more easily and securely taken hold of by the catchers without danger of being dropped, and be not injured and damaged by the more or less violent shocks to which they are exposed.

The invention consists of a mail-bag made with a narrower and contracted throat at the middle part, and provided with a detachable protecting-sleeve, that is attached in suitable manner thereto.

In the drawing, A represents a mail-bag, made of the usual material and approved construction, but of narrow or contracted shape midway between the mouth and bottom, so as to impart to the bag the shape of an hour-glass.

The letters are passed from the mouth to the lower part of the bag through the contracted throat formed in themiddle part, which part may be provided with side gussets, if desired, that admit, by the expansion of the throat, the easier putting in and taking out of the mail matter. These side gussets, however, fold into the bag,-so that the flat and con tracted throat is taken hold of by the fork of the catcher, and the bag thereby securely and reliably caught without danger of slipping out and dropping. A detachable sleeve, B, made in the shape of the common straight mail-bag, of strong canvas, but without a contracted part, is placed over the bag and attached by straps O, or in any other suitable manner, to the mouth and bottom of the bag, the sleeve or cover being also strapped or otherwise contracted around the throat part of the bag, to assume the shape and form loose folds around the same. The canvas sleeve B serves to protect the bag incased therein against injurious infiuence'of the violent concussions of the catcher, and renders thereby the bag, in

connection with the contracted throat, more durable, especially as the sleeve may be readily replaced from time to time, so that the heavy expense for repairing the mail-bags damaged by the catcher may be to some extent avoided, and also a bag be furnished which is more securely and reliably taken up and retained thereon for being taken into the mail-bag.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A mail-bag constructed with a narrow contracted part or throat between the mouth and bottom part, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

2. A mail-bag formed of an inner leather and outer canvas tube, the former to contain the letters, and the latter to admit of its be ing seized by the catcher without slipping.

, JOHN BOYLE.

Witnesses T. B. MOSHER, ALEX. F. ROBERTS. 

